The 10 Most Controversial TV Series Finales of All Time

Sometimes the journey is more rewarding than the destination — few people know this better than TV fans (and Stephen King readers). Over the decades, TV watchers have cringed and sobbed and stared slack-jawed in astonishment as some of their favorite shows have concluded in highly unexpected — and extremely memorable — ways. For some, those risky endings pay off; for others, it can feel like betrayal. Love ’em or hate ’em, these 10 series finales are controversial for a reason.

In choosing the most controversial TV series finales of all time, we weren’t selecting the worst or best of the bunch. Regardless of our (or your) personal feelings on these endings, we wanted to take a look back at the ones that were most divisive among fans — the finales that shocked and stunned and mystified, the ones that left us scratching (or shaking) our heads. You know, the ones that we’re still talking about years, or even decades later. Read on to find out if your personal picks made the cut: